Preview — Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
by Jamie Ford

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

In 1986, Henry Lee joins a crowd outside the Panama Hotel, once the gateway to Seattle's Japantown. It has been boarded up for decades, but now the new owner has discovered the belongings of Japanese families who were sent to internment camps during World War II. As the owner displays and unfurls a Japanese parasol, Henry, a Chinese American, remembers a young Japanese AmeIn 1986, Henry Lee joins a crowd outside the Panama Hotel, once the gateway to Seattle's Japantown. It has been boarded up for decades, but now the new owner has discovered the belongings of Japanese families who were sent to internment camps during World War II. As the owner displays and unfurls a Japanese parasol, Henry, a Chinese American, remembers a young Japanese American girl from his childhood in the 1940s—Keiko Okabe, with whom he forged a bond of friendship and innocent love that transcended the prejudices of their Old World ancestors. After Keiko and her family were evacuated to the internment camps, she and Henry could only hope that their promise to each other would be kept. Now, forty years later, Henry explores the hotel's basement for the Okabe family's belongings and for a long-lost object whose value he cannot even begin to measure. His search will take him on a journey to revisit the sacrifices he has made for family, for love, for country....more

Marythere is no profanity, but one does read the racist names that people used at the time to offend others they were afraid of, but it's all in context.…morethere is no profanity, but one does read the racist names that people used at the time to offend others they were afraid of, but it's all in context. (less)

Community Reviews

"Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" is as saccharine and overly sentimental as the title suggests. It is historical fiction for the Nicholas Sparks set -- an emotionally heavy-handed novel that is well told, but not particularly well written.

There are some diamonds in the rough, though: the historical aspects of the novel are very interesting; the relationships depicted in the book, while not always believable, are complex; and, the issues related to cultural identity and racial discrimin"Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" is as saccharine and overly sentimental as the title suggests. It is historical fiction for the Nicholas Sparks set -- an emotionally heavy-handed novel that is well told, but not particularly well written.

There are some diamonds in the rough, though: the historical aspects of the novel are very interesting; the relationships depicted in the book, while not always believable, are complex; and, the issues related to cultural identity and racial discrimination in the States during WWII are very well detailed.

All in all, "Hotel" is a great story couched in an okay novel. Ford is a promising writer who, I feel, needs to trust his readers more. That is, he needs to let us feel without trying SO hard to manipulate those feelings....more

I have to admit that I did not like this book. Mr. Ford is a decent writer, and while he did research 1942 fairly extensively, he did a crappy job portraying 1986. I was alive in '86. I was ten, in fact. While my memory of the time is going to be different than that of a 50 year old character, I wound up being very tired of the repeated anachronisms. In one paragraph--on page four of the book, I believe--the narrator tells the readers that the main character's sOriginal review posted: Mar 19, 09

I have to admit that I did not like this book. Mr. Ford is a decent writer, and while he did research 1942 fairly extensively, he did a crappy job portraying 1986. I was alive in '86. I was ten, in fact. While my memory of the time is going to be different than that of a 50 year old character, I wound up being very tired of the repeated anachronisms. In one paragraph--on page four of the book, I believe--the narrator tells the readers that the main character's son is seeing a grief counselor and participating in an Internet support group. In 1986, that sort of thing would have been highly unlikely. Further, in that same paragraph, he tells us the main character's deceased wife is buried in the same cemetary with Bruce and Brandon Lee--and this is seven years before Brandon's death.

I'm not the kind of reader that gets easily annoyed by poor detail editing--but I am annoyed when sloppy research (or a failure to do any sort of research) leads to misrepresentations of the setting. I found this book to be very sloppy indeed.

Edit posted: April 21, 2013After years of getting comments and feedback on this review, I will take the time to edit it for two important details.

1. Many of the errors that I found irritating were fixed in the paperback edition of the book. I would argue that this means that others also found the errors irritating that they were, indeed, errors.

2. Ford replies to the internet issue as one of his FAQ replies on his website. He states:

"I'm afraid I have to reveal just how geeky I truly am. I was on Compuserve in 1984, with an old coupler modem like you saw in the movie Wargames. Back when you had to pay $100 to sign up and were charged by the hour. Just because most people weren't online then, doesn't mean no one was. Just the few, the proud, the computer geeks..."

Set in Seattle during the Japanese internment during WW2. This book has a sweeping feel to it. It starts out slow - but not slow in the sense who feel like you are waiting for paint to dry - but slow in the "This is really going somewhere" kind of way. It does go somewhere by the way. Once the ball gets rolling, this book sweeps you up into the lives of two friends who made a promise to see each other again.

The book begins as Henry Lee stands in front of the Panama Hotel. This hotel has been boaSet in Seattle during the Japanese internment during WW2. This book has a sweeping feel to it. It starts out slow - but not slow in the sense who feel like you are waiting for paint to dry - but slow in the "This is really going somewhere" kind of way. It does go somewhere by the way. Once the ball gets rolling, this book sweeps you up into the lives of two friends who made a promise to see each other again.

The book begins as Henry Lee stands in front of the Panama Hotel. This hotel has been boarded up for years but a new owner has discovered something inside - the belongings of Japanese families. Their possessions that were left behind when they were rounded up and taken to internment camps. As he stands watching, a simple act happens...the owner opens up a Japanese parasol. This act takes him back. We have all experienced this. A scent, a food, a location, a sound can take us back to our youth, or to the home of a loved one.

For Henry Lee, the open parasol takes him back to the 1940s. Henry is raised by a father who wants his Chinese son to be an "American" at all costs. Henry through a "Scholarship" is sent to school where the "American/White" kids ignore him. But there is one person who does not ignore him and that it a young Japanese girl named Keiko. They form a friendship. A type of young love if you will. Sweet and innocent. But then Keiko and her family are rounded up and she is whisked away.

Henry wonders "Is this her Parasol?" Could more of her families belongings be inside? Can he come to terms with what happened so long ago? Can he rebuild her relationship with his son?

I thought this book was really good. Such a great book club book. So many discussions to be had. There are elements of friendship, love, loss, betrayal, longing, guilt, loneliness, etc.

I loved this book, but I had one minor annoyance with it. The author had 4 anachronisms: the book is set (in part) in 1986, and yet the son is in an "on-line" grief support group, and used the internet to look up a lost friend, and there is talk twice about digital conversion of records to CDs.

This book is told by a 50+ year old second generation Chinese-American. It is told in two different time periods, and flows back and forth between the 1940's to 1986 seemlessly. It is the story of a youngI loved this book, but I had one minor annoyance with it. The author had 4 anachronisms: the book is set (in part) in 1986, and yet the son is in an "on-line" grief support group, and used the internet to look up a lost friend, and there is talk twice about digital conversion of records to CDs.

This book is told by a 50+ year old second generation Chinese-American. It is told in two different time periods, and flows back and forth between the 1940's to 1986 seemlessly. It is the story of a young chinese boy who is thrown together with a young japanese girl in Seattle during WW2. It is the story of their friendship/love, and also that of the other relationships that the boy has: his Chinese parents, a local black jazz musician, and later with his own son and son's fiance. Very well written, and very touching.

It gave an interesting insight into the Chinese views of the war, along with the effects, and the aftermath, of the Japanese internment on the Seattle area....more

For me Jamie Ford's heralded, multiple award-winning Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet was an entirely luke warm reading experience from start to finish.

The emotional heat that should have brewed within a story of this nature, considering the volatile subject matter, failed to materialize. I never tasted the venom of injustice as I should have. The details of Japanese internment in America during WWII was certainly interesting to read about, especially since I know so little about it. SeeFor me Jamie Ford's heralded, multiple award-winning Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet was an entirely luke warm reading experience from start to finish.

The emotional heat that should have brewed within a story of this nature, considering the volatile subject matter, failed to materialize. I never tasted the venom of injustice as I should have. The details of Japanese internment in America during WWII was certainly interesting to read about, especially since I know so little about it. Seeing our country, a country founded on freedom, take it away from its own citizens is chilling. I just didn't feel the chill in Ford's words as much as I could and should have.

Otherwise, it was a lovely story. A quaint and well-written love story indeed. I did have a hard time rooting for the romantic connection between these two children. They were just too young for me to think in those terms, and maybe it wasn't intended to be so intimate. Certainly their relationship is sweet and I felt myself pulling for them, but I was pulling with all the strength and enthusiasm I would if I were pitted in a game of tug-o-war against a two year old.

Regardless of my less than perfect reading experience, I think this would be a great book for someone looking for a 20th century historical romance. Perhaps someone who likes YA romance and who doesn't mind it being set against a background of truth and terror for Japanese Americans during World War II....more

Oy vey. I really did want to like this book. It sounded like the perfect book for my mood: Not too highfalutin or literary, but a good story I which I can immerse myself and escape to a different time and place.As I went on Goodreads a few days ago to add the book to my list of 'currently reading' however, I came across a number of really bad reviews. Disappointed, and somewhat deflated, I nevertheless read on trying to ignore the negativity, stay positive and try to like the story and get intoOy vey. I really did want to like this book. It sounded like the perfect book for my mood: Not too highfalutin or literary, but a good story I which I can immerse myself and escape to a different time and place.As I went on Goodreads a few days ago to add the book to my list of 'currently reading' however, I came across a number of really bad reviews. Disappointed, and somewhat deflated, I nevertheless read on trying to ignore the negativity, stay positive and try to like the story and get into the characters. Well, I got to page 67. And reviewers who gave bad reviews: you were right.My first suspicions about the writing came in one of the first chapters where one page after the other the paragraphs start the same way: Henry wasn't sure which was... Worse, (pg 27) and ... More .frustrating (pg 29). Which just led me thinking: Where was the editor here?

I even read through this sentence on page 33: The sum total of Henry's Japanese friends happened to be a number that rhymed with hero.

What?!? What kind of sentence is that? From an adult? Someone trying to evoke the feel of a Chinese immigrant to the US in the 1940's?! That kind of writing is a word that rhymes with spit.

Another 30 pages into the book and I thought: why bother? The author clearly hasn't been able to capture my attention, I am not drawn into the story or the characters and while I really wasn't looking for prose of genius, the are minimum requirements of what I am willing to read. (Maybe this book would be better as an audio?)

So I put down. I give it one star and a new title: Prose on the Precipice of Barfy and Saccharain...more

Switching between 1942 and 1986 this is an easy read on a complex subject. A historical romance with a Romeo & Juliet twist, this time the doomed love affair between Henry, a Chinese American and Keiko, a Japanese American; its historical focus the internment of Japanese Americans during WW2. I loved the inclusion of Seattle’s music scene, the symbolism of the lost jazz record interwoven throughout, the passages that escalated it above a pure romance novel. (view spoiler)[ In one, after theSwitching between 1942 and 1986 this is an easy read on a complex subject. A historical romance with a Romeo & Juliet twist, this time the doomed love affair between Henry, a Chinese American and Keiko, a Japanese American; its historical focus the internment of Japanese Americans during WW2. I loved the inclusion of Seattle’s music scene, the symbolism of the lost jazz record interwoven throughout, the passages that escalated it above a pure romance novel. (view spoiler)[ In one, after the Japanese had all been trucked away a heartsick Sheldon (Henry’s musician friend) takes his sax & performs a concert to a ghost town - I could almost hear his soulful melody echoing in the silent streets. In another Henry searches through a mountain of personal belongs stored in the Panama Hotel, forgotten & coated in 40 years of dust. (hide spoiler)]It shone exploring the dynamics of a typical Chinese American family. Henry’s father with his clear allegiance to China coupled with his hatred for the Japanese, his mother’s struggle to bring together a husband & son so opposed in their beliefs. ’Saang Jan’ you are a stranger to me. I can’t say the same for it’s portrayal of Kioko’s family. Their stoic acceptance (bordering on cheerful resignation) over the loss of all they owned while very commendable rang false.(view spoiler)[ and their fate left unresolved. This is more Henry’s story than Keiko’s, fair enough. Still, a glaring omission was the lack of detail on what happened to Keiko’s family after their release (hide spoiler)] As a romance this is a 4 star read, for plot & character development a 3. I guess I wanted more substance, a little more bitter & a little less sweet.

“How could they sit back and do nothing when this many people were being taken away – when they could be next?”

“It was the record, their record. Oscar Holden’s ‘Alley Cat Strut.” It shouted at the night, louder than the storm.”

Notes: Canada also interred it’s Japanese Canadians during WW2 as told in The Jade Peony They say all is fair in Love and War - it’s understandable that alliances were questioned – Still books like these bring to light a subject worth reflecting on....more

Set in Seattle, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet tells of the forbidden friendship between a Chinese-American boy named Henry Lee and a Japanese-American girl named Keiko Okabe during the Second World War. Henry and Keiko are both just twelve years old when they become friends in 1942. Life is difficult for both of them. They face racism and prejudice on a daily basis and Henry's father does not approve of the friendship. After the devastation of Pearl Harbour, the US government decides tSet in Seattle, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet tells of the forbidden friendship between a Chinese-American boy named Henry Lee and a Japanese-American girl named Keiko Okabe during the Second World War. Henry and Keiko are both just twelve years old when they become friends in 1942. Life is difficult for both of them. They face racism and prejudice on a daily basis and Henry's father does not approve of the friendship. After the devastation of Pearl Harbour, the US government decides to send all the people of Japanese decent to live in internment camps until the war is over. Henry and Keiko find themselves separated.

I really loved this book! Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a beautiful, fascinating, tender and moving story from beginning to end. Like the title suggests, the story is such a bitter-sweet tale, heartbreaking at times and so warm and sweet in others. This novel is set during two time periods, the 1940's and 1986. I found both periods equally compelling to read about. It is incredibly rare to find a historical fiction novel about World War Two that isn't set in Europe! Before reading this book, I knew nothing about how badly the Japanese in America were treated during the war. I was quite shocked by this. I have to admit I cried a few times while reading this book!

All the characters were vivid, well-developed and realistic. I really loved the characters of Henry, Keiko and Sheldon, and really cared about what happened to them. I've just got one gripe with the novel. I would have liked to know what happened in Keiko's life during the intervening years while they were apart.

I found it really hard to put this novel down and I look forward to reading more from this author!

I'm always a little behind the curve when it comes to reading blockbuster NYT bestsellers. I think a part of me resists because I love finding "little" books that deserve kudos and talking about them. But I had heard so many good things about THE HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET that I bought it, though I sat on it a while before I cracked it open to read. Once I did, I was hooked instantly by the wonderful character of Henry Lee, a 12-year-old boy in Seattle's Chinatown during the earlyI'm always a little behind the curve when it comes to reading blockbuster NYT bestsellers. I think a part of me resists because I love finding "little" books that deserve kudos and talking about them. But I had heard so many good things about THE HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET that I bought it, though I sat on it a while before I cracked it open to read. Once I did, I was hooked instantly by the wonderful character of Henry Lee, a 12-year-old boy in Seattle's Chinatown during the early years of America's involvement in WWII. Henry's relationship with Keiko, a Japanese girl at his otherwise white school, is frowned upon by his father (in fact, he doesn't even tell his parents about Keiko for a long time). I so enjoyed seeing the boy Henry was (in the 1940s) interspersed with more modern chapters (1980s) so I also viewed the man he became. A sweet and eye-opening tale about love and humanity during an uncivil era. Highly recommended for readers of all ages....more

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, Release Date 1/27/2009, $24.00

I've just finished reading Jamie Ford's forthcoming novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, and am still basking in the glow. The characters are fully realized, the title is a real attention grabber, and the story fleshed out with plenty of local and period detail. Ford provides an intimate look at life on the homefront during WWII from the uncommon perpective of an earnest Chinese-American boy and hisHotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, Release Date 1/27/2009, $24.00

I've just finished reading Jamie Ford's forthcoming novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, and am still basking in the glow. The characters are fully realized, the title is a real attention grabber, and the story fleshed out with plenty of local and period detail. Ford provides an intimate look at life on the homefront during WWII from the uncommon perpective of an earnest Chinese-American boy and his Japanese-American school friend. I think Henry and Keiko are two of the most engaging characters I've come across in a long while and I will not soon forget them, nor Sheldon, the saxophone player who befreinds them. I'm not the type of reader that necessarily longs for a happy ending, but this one certainly satisfies.

When I heard that my debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, was going to be published in Persian, my first thought was, “Fantastic! Perhaps I could attend the Tehran Book Festival.”You see I would love to visit your country.I’ve had friends travel to Iran in the past and they’ve told me wonderful things—about the history, the culture, and especially the kind and generous people.Also, whenever the leaders of my country say there’s somepl:نامه نویسنده به خوانندگان ایرانی

Dear friend,

When I heard that my debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, was going to be published in Persian, my first thought was, “Fantastic! Perhaps I could attend the Tehran Book Festival.”You see I would love to visit your country.I’ve had friends travel to Iran in the past and they’ve told me wonderful things—about the history, the culture, and especially the kind and generous people.Also, whenever the leaders of my country say there’s someplace Americans shouldn’t go, I want to go there even more.Because I believe literature can, and should, transcend politics. And because I believe readers—lovers of books, wherever they live, are the best kind of people—curious and compassionate, creative and filled with boundless hope. I firmly believe that there is connectivity through storytelling. Or as the great poet, Hafez, once said, “Found nothing more joyful than the sound of words of love.”So as a writer (and a reader) I’m daydreaming about a better day, not too far into the future, when perhaps I can be there in person, to thank you for picking up my book—a noble romantic tragedy, a recollection of a forgotten and somewhat shameful chapter in US history, and an innocent love story about people who are seemingly different, but really the same.Thank you to Tandis for publishing this book, and a special thank you to Marjan Mohammadi for her hard work and expertise in translating this story. I hope you enjoy my work and if so, I’d love to hear from you.Kindest regards,

This was a touching story of friendship, love and loss. I enjoyed this very much. Great characters, rich history and beautifully written. My local library picked this as the second book in their book club. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone thinks of it.

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.Okay, I am not the target audience for this book. One of my favorite teachers in high school was sent to one of the internment camps as a child. I’ve met Fred Korematsu, whose challenge to internship went all the way to the Supreme Court back in the day. I’ve read that opinion. I know several members of the excellent legal team that got his conviction vacated. I know the Justice Department lied to the Supreme Court about the “known danger” the Japanese-Americans represented. My grandmother boughOkay, I am not the target audience for this book. One of my favorite teachers in high school was sent to one of the internment camps as a child. I’ve met Fred Korematsu, whose challenge to internship went all the way to the Supreme Court back in the day. I’ve read that opinion. I know several members of the excellent legal team that got his conviction vacated. I know the Justice Department lied to the Supreme Court about the “known danger” the Japanese-Americans represented. My grandmother bought a house on 10th and Jefferson from a neighbor being sent away, and my boss’s family took in an ebony and ivory piano from neighbors being removed that he later, at no small expense, had restored and donated to a Buddhist temple in Wapato. I love George Takei and have exchanged tweets with him. I know about the internment camps. I am deeply ashamed.

I am not the target audience. I am no fan of the sweet and sentimental; of pathos and wistfulness; of romance and thwarted love. And I despise Orson Scott Card, who helped get this book written, for his stalwart work on behalf of homophobia. Science fiction writers who are on the wrong side of history belong in the special hell.

So I didn’t like the book, but understand, seriously, I am not in the target audience. I suspect, though I don’t know, that the author did not mean to write about the Japanese internment. He meant to write a thwarted love story. The author interview in the back of the book disclaims any political intent, which baffles me. Given the opportunity to clearly condemn – or even defend -- the internment, he evades. I don’t get that. The most he can come up with is "beloved president Reagan apologized." When asked if he saw a parallel between the calls to close the border or remove Muslim Americans, he seemed astonished that there might be one.

I do not love President Reagan. The parallel is bleeding.

If I hadn’t been reading this for my reading group, I never would have picked it up. But I did, and I finished it. It’s a quick read. It’s about a guy who meets a girl, falls in love with a girl, loses a girl to the Japanese internment and his father’s racism, and moves on to be a good husband to a different woman. Who dies. Opening up our guy to find his first love. I suspect it’s one of those books that attempts to mine those “rich veins of ordinary life” I hear that non-genre literature is lovingly mining. I almost always find such books trite and cloying. This one was no exception. ...more

I'm always seeing those posts on Facebook of kids of different cultures and races playing together, hugging each other and only seeing what they love. These are messages to the wider world that adults shouldn't really be imposing their racist, prejudicial fears on their kids. Henry and Keiko are 2 such beautiful little souls. In 1942, while the world is fighting and killing each other these two are just managing to get through the day without being picked on, smacked around or abused because oneI'm always seeing those posts on Facebook of kids of different cultures and races playing together, hugging each other and only seeing what they love. These are messages to the wider world that adults shouldn't really be imposing their racist, prejudicial fears on their kids. Henry and Keiko are 2 such beautiful little souls. In 1942, while the world is fighting and killing each other these two are just managing to get through the day without being picked on, smacked around or abused because one is Chinese and the other, God forbid is Japanese. They live in America and while I would love to believe that things have changed for the better there, sadly, it appears to be getting worse. The story (Henry's story) unfolds back and forth between 1942 and 1986 and I absolutely loved it...more

A rich, tender, personal story so touching and full of history I should know, but didn't. Pulled at my heartstrings and made me longingly linger over and over the last few chapters.Set durring the height of Nihonmachi district (JapanTown) area of Seattle, Washingtom. You jump from 1986 to 1942 thoughout the story. To tell the tale of Henery Lee an intelligent, brave, 12yr old Chinese American quickly growing into a man thru struggling WWII times. He has a strained relationship with his father miA rich, tender, personal story so touching and full of history I should know, but didn't. Pulled at my heartstrings and made me longingly linger over and over the last few chapters.Set durring the height of Nihonmachi district (JapanTown) area of Seattle, Washingtom. You jump from 1986 to 1942 thoughout the story. To tell the tale of Henery Lee an intelligent, brave, 12yr old Chinese American quickly growing into a man thru struggling WWII times. He has a strained relationship with his father mirroring that as a grown man in his fiftys he also struggles to open communications with his own grown son Marty. This is a rare book find for me as a closer look into the Japanese and Chinese American citizens and the bigotry and hatred they endured, because the country thought any could be spies. I gained new insight about the internment camps all Japanese citizens were evacuateed to with only possessions they could carry. Was a powerful look into American history as hearts and humanity broke down, inflicted by war and the damage to repair years after as relationships try to mend.Not very many books have made me read thru tears but this was such a profound story that needed to be written, with characters believable and heroic. A Beautiful Romeo and Juliet style romantic tale. I loved the symbolisms used, most of which the old vinyl 78 Oscar Holden record. I also enjoyed getting a peek into the 1940's Seattle jazz scene.

Wow, just wow. This book was masterfully told and while it started slow, it built into a crescendo of feelings and emotions. The character development was amazing, the storyline outstanding, and the writing masterful.

I had heard lots about this book, but had not put it on my TBR list. So when I saw the audio at the library, I figured...what the heck, may as well try it! I might not have finished it if I had an alternative book in the car to read. Sometimes the reader annoyed me when he said the main character's (Henry's) words with a Chinese accent (inconsistently at that!) .... since Henry had been born in the US.

I usually do not like when an author switches back and forth from one time period to another, bI had heard lots about this book, but had not put it on my TBR list. So when I saw the audio at the library, I figured...what the heck, may as well try it! I might not have finished it if I had an alternative book in the car to read. Sometimes the reader annoyed me when he said the main character's (Henry's) words with a Chinese accent (inconsistently at that!) .... since Henry had been born in the US.

I usually do not like when an author switches back and forth from one time period to another, but in this book it "fit".

I think the author should have made Henry and Keiko a bit older...I found it impossible to accept that these "children" had such a relationship. Absolutely implausible. I also found the writing to be clumsy, full of cliches, AND I felt nothing for any of the characters. Usually I feel some connection, but not here.

I found a LOT of inaccuracies in this book and many logical incongrities, but since I was driving while listening, I could not make notes on them...but I groaned a LOT! This author really needed to do better research or have an editor who knows something about history. One of the most egregious errors was when Henry's son was participating in an online grief group...in 1986!!!!! Also in 1986, a rear-projection TV in a nursing home, Someone died in 1986 but was buried in the same cemetery as a celebrity who died in 1993. He said that a Japanese sub DESTROYED an oil refinery in CA, when, in reality, it had barely damaged the refinery. Yeah, right, sure. Many online reviewers, who know a lot more about World War II than I do, really zoned in on all the the mistakes about the war. For example, Japan occupied Canton until 1945 (not 1942 as the author stated), To me, all of these errors of fact are the signs of a lazy writer. I know that with fiction, readers are expected to suspend belief, but not about FACTS!

The author said, at the end, that he did not intend to make this book about the internment camps...but perhaps he should have put that statement at the beginning because I think maybe people were expecting that to be the focus of this book...

Had this been a "paper" book, or if I had had another audiobook available, I probably would have abandoned it after 50 pages -- if I had even gotten that far!...more

Great book. I love novels based on historical fact. I finished it in just a day and a half. Hard to believe it is a first novel. I am looking forward to more from this author. I looked up some of the people and places mentioned in the book, just to see if they were real - and was pleased to find that they were. Of course if I had read the acknolwedgements at the end of the book I would have known that already.

Hotel made me cry, made me laugh and brought me joy. It's a beautifully written and tender story about first love, the human experience surrounding racial divides, generational conflicts, and the internment of Japanese Americans. You won't be disappointed with Hotel.

After reading how many people absolutely adore this book, I almost feel a little guilty giving it a "meh" review. But....a "meh" review it deserves, and that's what it shall get from me.

First, the good: My sense is that this story has raised awareness of the internment camps that many Japanese-Americans were placed in during WWII. As someone who believes that without knowledge of history we're doomed to repeat it, I think that's timely and important knowledge for people to have. The story of HenAfter reading how many people absolutely adore this book, I almost feel a little guilty giving it a "meh" review. But....a "meh" review it deserves, and that's what it shall get from me.

First, the good: My sense is that this story has raised awareness of the internment camps that many Japanese-Americans were placed in during WWII. As someone who believes that without knowledge of history we're doomed to repeat it, I think that's timely and important knowledge for people to have. The story of Henry and Keiko's relationship is a very sweet, heartwarming one (if not entirely realistic at age 12-ish). Mrs. Beatty is a character who I would have enjoyed getting to "know" better; for someone who was a pretty crusty lady, she seemed to have a lot of compassion beneath that exterior.

Then, the bad: Anachronisms. Lots of them. Interestingly, not in the 1940s sections, but in the 1980s sections. Shame on the editor who let them get past their desk. Another weakness was in all of the allusions to the history of father-son relationships in the Lee family with little being done to develop that theme. Also, while many of the characters were interesting, the portrayal of them felt superficial to me. Mrs. Beatty seemed underdeveloped as a character- as did Mr. Okabe and even Sheldon. I wanted more of these characters.

It's an easy read and if you need something to fill time (I did- read it in a day and a half while I've been laid up with pneumonia), it's not a bad time-filler. Honestly, though, it reminds me of cotton candy at the fair- sweet, light, fluffy, and leaves you wishing for something with more substance....more

Great title and a great book! It took me a while because of changing residences, but that way I was able to stretch out the enjoyment factor. The book not only brings to the forefront a dark time in US history, but the story is sweetened by the fully fleshed-out characters and the swirl of events in which they find themselves. These are characters you're not likely to forget. Highly recommended.

This is a story of a 1st generation Chinese American boy named Henry in 1942 Seattle. During World War II his father wants to ensure no one confuses him for the ostracized Japanese and sends his son to an all white school with an "I Am Chinese" button on his clothing. There he meets 2nd generation Japanese American girl named Keiko. Though Henry's father has a passionate hatred for the Japanese, Henry develops a sweet, deep and secretive fIf this isn't an eye opening book, I don't know what is.

This is a story of a 1st generation Chinese American boy named Henry in 1942 Seattle. During World War II his father wants to ensure no one confuses him for the ostracized Japanese and sends his son to an all white school with an "I Am Chinese" button on his clothing. There he meets 2nd generation Japanese American girl named Keiko. Though Henry's father has a passionate hatred for the Japanese, Henry develops a sweet, deep and secretive friendship with her.

Then the president of the USA signs an executive order to round up Japanese Americans and "evacuate" them to internment camps across the western half of the United States. Henry must come to grips with losing his new best friend while trying to understand why or how such an appalling act could be happening to the Japanese Americans.

This book was certainly an eye opener as I already stated. I had heard of internment camps for the Japanese, but so very little of it. The author clearly stated at the end of this book he had no intention of laying blame on anyone or to sway the reader to sympathy either. He did a remarkable job of simply stating what happened with no political jabs. He tells a beautiful story of friendship and life during those difficult times. I can tell you this book has certainly inspired me to learn more on this topic....more

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford follows the life of Henry Lee during 1942 and 1986 in Seattle, Washington. Henry is a first-generation Chinese American whose father's heart is still in China. Henry is sent to an all-white school on scholarship because his father wants Henry to "be American". While there, Henry befriends a Japanese girl named Keiko who is also accepted at the school on scholarship. Henry knows his friendship with this young girl will upset h** 3 1/2 stars **

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford follows the life of Henry Lee during 1942 and 1986 in Seattle, Washington. Henry is a first-generation Chinese American whose father's heart is still in China. Henry is sent to an all-white school on scholarship because his father wants Henry to "be American". While there, Henry befriends a Japanese girl named Keiko who is also accepted at the school on scholarship. Henry knows his friendship with this young girl will upset his father, but having been the only student of color at Reiner Elementary, Henry allows his loneliness and need of a friend to overcome his prejudices. When Keiko is forced to relocate to an internment camp, Henry is devastated but determined to not let their friendship die.

Forty years later new owners are renovating the Panama Hotel in Seattle when belongings of Japanese families during the 'war years' are found. Henry has recently lost his wife, Ethel, to cancer and these findings bring back a flood of old memories and longings. He doesn't want to disrespect the memory of his late wife and doesn't want to hurt his son who loved Ethel very much, but his need to revisit his past and his love for Keiko win out in the end and have surprising outcomes that Henry never imagined could happen.

I typically have a difficult time reading period pieces because of my lack of knowledge of history. The author, however, did a very good job of explaining events and the culture of the time; I had no difficulty understanding what was happening or being able to visualize the story in my mind. The story, however, was very slow to get going for me. It was a good 100 pages in before things started to pick up and I really was interested in seeing what may happen next.

I'm listing my pros and cons as spoilers because I don't want to ruin the story for those of you who may not have read this book yet.

(view spoiler)[Pros• This book does an excellent job of showing that racism exists in many forms and people can too often hold prejudices against an entire people because of the deeds of a select few.• The author's research of 1940s Seattle culture is evident; he able to describe details to the reader that brings the book to life.• Prior to reading this book, I honestly had very little knowledge of the Japanese interment camps. I knew they had existed during WWII, but that was about it. This book is in no way an extensive text on what life inside these camps was like, but it does give the reader a glimpse.

Cons• As previously stated, I found this book very difficult to get into. I contemplated abandoning it, but decided to hang on.• Although I know that love has no age, I found it very difficult to believe that two twelve-year olds could have such deep feelings for each other. Perhaps it was the difficulty of being together that pushed them closer to each other... or perhaps the extreme circumstances of the time... but the depth of love was a little unbelievable.• Although the internet did exist in 1986, it's very hard to believe that Marty was in an online support group and used the internet to locate Keiko on the opposite side of the country. • Although CDs did exist and were used in 1986, it was hard to believe this would be the suggested form of reformatting a record instead of a cassette tape. (hide spoiler)]...more

My book club read this book and when I passed the cover in an airport I knew I just had to read it. When my girlfriend found it on sale it put it on my list.

Okay this is a do not pass up book, the reading is light goes quickly but the story is deep. I can't help but think of my very first real crush I had in the seventh grade, it my first attempt at understanding the very adult feeling I was having towards Tony. The funny thing is I can't tell you my husbands birthday but I can still remember thMy book club read this book and when I passed the cover in an airport I knew I just had to read it. When my girlfriend found it on sale it put it on my list.

Okay this is a do not pass up book, the reading is light goes quickly but the story is deep. I can't help but think of my very first real crush I had in the seventh grade, it my first attempt at understanding the very adult feeling I was having towards Tony. The funny thing is I can't tell you my husbands birthday but I can still remember the shirt Tony had on when he gave me my first kiss. Henry learns not only what it means to accept someone for who they are and love them despite all odds, he gives up speaking to his family and dishonoring his father to stand up for what he knows is right as an American. I can't think of a time period more confusing this one for a young chinese boy born in America. He learns what it means to be American from a young Japanese girl and also looses his heart in the process. This book has so many hidden chinese proverbs that will touch your heart and give you hope in that first love. If nothing else it took me back to a time in my own life that was bitter sweet....more

Jamie Ford's, 'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet' lived up to my expectations. This book has a title that begs you to pick it up. It's about history and culture and music. But, like most love stories that take place during war times - there's sadness and heartbreak.

I enjoyed 'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet'. It is deceptively low-key and emotionally even-tempered, but it actually is about certain painful intersections of time, place and cultures, specifically 1942 and 1986, seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old Chinese-American boy at first, and then those of a 56-year-old widower, both of whom are Henry Lee, born in and having lived his entire life in Seattle, Washington State, in America to immigrant Chinese parents. He speaks English, but hisI enjoyed 'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet'. It is deceptively low-key and emotionally even-tempered, but it actually is about certain painful intersections of time, place and cultures, specifically 1942 and 1986, seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old Chinese-American boy at first, and then those of a 56-year-old widower, both of whom are Henry Lee, born in and having lived his entire life in Seattle, Washington State, in America to immigrant Chinese parents. He speaks English, but his parents do not. They speak Cantonese, and although they want Henry to be American, they follow the old ways of their Chinese community.

The story alternates between following the child Henry as he contends with the conflicting motives and prejudices of his father during World War II, and the grownup Henry who is learning to live without his wife, who recently died from cancer, and to understand his modern American adult son, Marty.

Henry and his father shared one cultural rule - do not express feelings. Otherwise, everything else was a point of misunderstanding and cultural obliviousness between them. Henry attended a local White-race elementary school, which was engineered by his socially important father, and he was forbidden to speak Cantonese at home. It meant he had to communicate in sign language with his parents, except on occasion when he had to translate for them.

Henry's family lived in what I grew up calling Seattle's International District (which the author is spot on in describing), but during WWII, it was a neighborhood called Chinatown. Chinatown was where Chinese people were a majority population, but nearby was a Japanese enclave of businesses and homes. Black people also lived there. Today (2016), the International District is an incredibly diverse population of different cultures and countries, but it mostly reflects many Asian cultures.

World War II caused prejudices to explode within and without the enclaves, both from national patriotism and personal considerations - to some White Americans, there were no differences between the Japanese-Americans, Chinese-Americans and the enemy Japanese; and likewise to many immigrant first-generation Chinese-Americans all Japanese were enemies, since Japan had been slaughtering Chinese in China for a decade, long before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Henry's father hated the Japanese, American or not - he had racially-based beliefs about Japanese-American loyalties the same as many Whites did, even as he forced Henry to wear a large button declaring Henry to be Chinese in English to protect him from abuses from White people (in spite of the button, Henry still suffers from beatings by a white student at school).

Henry is depressed and confused. When he meets and begins to like a 12-year-old Japanese girl attending the same elementary school he is before the Japanese were forced into the camps, Henry has to make some immediate decisions about his father, his obligations to his Chinese society's traditions and what exactly being an American 'of color' and yet also a completely Americanized American-born citizen, is about. Doing this while an ongoing war has intensified panic and fear(view spoiler)[Henry is lucky to find two mentors - a Black man and a White woman - who allow him the space and support he needs to become the liberal American-Chinese adult father that his adult son Marty belatedly discovers, fortunately not too late.

Going off-topic, why do so many adult children and their parents deny themselves honest reveals to each other when appropriate (if the relationship is benign and normal)? I never had kids, so as an outsider, I have seen SO many unnecessary parent/child/life dramas because of lack of communication! I suspect more families should get a mediator or a family therapist, if that is what it takes to TALK openly. (hide spoiler)]

'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet' is a love story of many things - Seattle, families and people in cultural transition, letting go of beloved traditions, an innocent romance between a boy and a girl - while it also quietly reflects on the failures and stresses behind 'multiculturalism'.

America was created with a written Constitution defining us as a Republic democracy with certain laws. Some of those laws define the rights of all citizens within American borders. Some of these mandated rights are about giving all citizens freedom to express ideas, religions, and culture, as long as there is no harmful coercion or illegal behavior, and as refined by the Supreme Court, without any interference from either the Federal or States' governments.

Unfortunately, diversity is difficult to tolerate in actual practice, particularly when cultural differences are perceived as putting others of different cultures in mortal danger.

When common ordinary people threaten to indulge in lynching and mass murderous mayhem to protect themselves if they believe the government won't protect them, even when there is no real danger whatsoever, the American government is committed to keeping the peace and to stop all mayhem before any other considerations, such as justice or rights. However, during World War II, in the name of protecting the nation from destructive disorder, and, thankfully, in not allowing the mass murder of Japanese-Americans, America nonetheless chose a cruel, racist response to appease White-race fears. America suspended Constitutional rights for Japanese Americans during the war and imprisoned them in concentration camps as if they were prisoners-of-war.

In moving all Japanese-Americans to these horrible camps, away from friends, jobs and their legally purchased property, these Japanese-American citizens lost everything they owned and all of their hard-earned wealth, besides their Constitutional rights. There was absolutely no cause ever discovered of danger from Japanese-Americans which was supposedly behind the declaration to move Japanese-Americans to concentration camps. It is a historical fact German prisoners-of-war captured in the fighting and transferred to American prisoner camps received better housing, medical care and humane treatment than did the Japanese-Americans living in their designated camps. Non-combatant German-American and Italian-American citizens were not placed into American concentration camps, and while some German-Americans experienced unlawful discrimination and personal assaults during WWII, they were mostly left to live their lives in whatever community they had settled in and to continue keeping their businesses, jobs, houses, property and money.

The book and the history behind it is a Romeo-and-Juliet tragedy in every dimension in my opinion. I think this novel may be too soft-spoken for some readers, but I found it a very good read. ...more

I’m a fan of historical fiction, especially if it’s set during World War II, but romance novels are something I’m not a fan of. With Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jamie Ford blends these two genres together and gives us a historical romance that I’m delighted to say I enjoyed so much. I lived in this novel and when there were days when I just couldn’t find the time to read, I found myself thinking of Henry and Keiko…

I’m a fan of historical fiction, especially if it’s set during World War II, but romance novels are something I’m not a fan of. With Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Jamie Ford blends these two genres together and gives us a historical romance that I’m delighted to say I enjoyed so much. I lived in this novel and when there were days when I just couldn’t find the time to read, I found myself thinking of Henry and Keiko…

It is 1942. Twelve year old Henry Lee’s life is a mass of contradiction. His father wants him to grow up American, yet at home he is still expected to honor Chinese customs. He can only speak English at home, yet his parents hardly understood English, putting a strain on their communication and parent-child relationship as a whole. His father sent him to a white elementary school on scholarship, yet makes him wear a badge that says “I am Chinese”.

At school Henry is subjected to bullying and prejudice and because he is Asian he is mistaken for being Japanese. When Keiko arrived at the elementary school, Henry was happy to not be the only non-white, but then he learns she is Japanese. Knowing his father does not like Japanese people, he is standoffish with her at first, until a beautiful friendship starts developing between the two, which is inevitable since he has to work with her during lunch times in the school kitchen. A friendship with a risk, not only because of his parents’ disapproval, but because at the time Americans declared war on the Japanese. After Henry and Keiko’s relationship starts blooming into something more than friendship, she is taken away along with many other Japanese families to internment camps. It is here where he tells her he loves her for the first time. A fact only his friend Sheldon, a jazz player he and Keiko went to watch regularly, know.

Over 40 years later, Henry has to deal with the loss of his wife Ethel and the strained relationship between him and his son, Marty. He learns that the Panama Hotel, situated in the previously called Japantown, has a new owner and that they found items belonging to Japanese families that was left there during the war times. Obviously this sparks Henry’s interest. He is hopeful that some of Keiko’s belongings are still there. He is looking for one singular item, had been for years…

I found this novel to be a heart-warming tale of romance, relationships and war. The story was beautiful and felt authentic. I mostly enjoyed the parts that played off in 1942, the historical detail about the war, but also the relationship that developed between these two young children. Not the soppiness that I tend to dislike, but a real, honest and beautiful relationship between two people. A caring friendship above all, that developed into love. I admire the young AND the old Henry. Henry, the man who cared tenderly for his wife during the time when she was ill, but especially Henry the boy who risked everything to help a family in need. Who held onto a friendship despite everyone being against it, for the girl he loves…...more

Jamie Ford’s debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, spent two years on the New York Times bestseller list and went on to win the 2010 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. Jamie’s work has been published in 34 languages. Also, because Jamie feels weird writing about himself in the 3rd person, he’s going to say…

Hi, this is me.

Not a publicist. Not some weird aggregated bit ofJamie Ford’s debut novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, spent two years on the New York Times bestseller list and went on to win the 2010 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature. Jamie’s work has been published in 34 languages. Also, because Jamie feels weird writing about himself in the 3rd person, he’s going to say…

Hi, this is me.

Not a publicist. Not some weird aggregated bit of web-content, just little ol’ me, the author, sitting here in my favorite Batman pajamas (yes, I have several pairs) writing this note in my cozy home office, dog at my feet. His name is Dexter and he’s twitching right now, obviously chasing rabbits in his dreams.

While we’re chatting, I should mention that my second novel, Songs of Willow Frost, came out in 2013–which I think is better than my first novel, but I’m kind of biased.

And…now my third novel Love and Other Consolation Prizes, also historical fiction, also set in Seattle, will be published September 12, 2017.

If you’re looking for more things that have spilled out of my brain, I have steampunk tales in The End is Nigh, The End is Now, and The End Has Come (The Apocalypse Triptych). Also a story in Last Night, A Superhero Saved My Life. That particular piece is about Daredevil, Elektra, and how I lost my virginity. (TMI?)

“The hardest choices in life aren't between what's right and what's wrong but between what's right and what's best.”
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“I had my chance.' He said it, retiring from a lifetime of wanting. 'I had my chance, and sometimes in life, there are no second chances. You look at what you have, not what you miss, and you move forward.”
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